Carson's sells River North site, plans new restaurant

(Crain's) — The owners of Carson’s restaurant have sold its River North location for $4.6 million, with plans to re-open the well-known rib restaurant as part of a new, two-story retail development.

Dean Carson, son of the restaurant’s founder, says the sale is part of a deal with Barrett Visionary Development LLC to build a new structure on the 15,233-square-foot site at 612 N. Wells St.

The existing structure would be demolished to make way for a new, two-story building that would include a new Carson’s as well other retailers. It has not yet been determined when construction would start.

Plans for the new building have not been finalized, says Mr. Carson and Rick Barrett of the Milwaukee-based development firm.

But Carson’s business would get a boost from a new development, Mr. Carson says.

“A one-story building doesn’t fit the model anymore,” he adds.

Carson’s has occupied the existing, lackluster 5,320-square-foot restaurant since 1977, when Chris Carson, Dean’s father, started the company. In the early 1990s, Carson’s had as many as six restaurants in the Chicago area.

But now, the restaurant has only one other location, in Deerfield, though both are still frequented by athletes, actors and politicians.

A key factor in the rebirth of the River North Carson’s is likely to be the architecture, says Mario Ponce of Chicago-based Kudan Group Inc., a real estate firm which specializes in restaurants and bars.

An intriguing redesign may create increased foot traffic in the area, says Mr. Ponce, who isn’t involved in the Carson’s site. “My feeling is that (other) restaurants in the area would welcome that,” he says.